JOLIET, Ill. – Brett Moffitt faced the media on Thursday at Chicagoland Speedway with emotion in his voice, a driver simply grateful to have a chance to compete.
Just 24 hours earlier, it seemed impossible that Moffitt would be able to make the journey with his Hattori Racing Enterprises team and race in the Overton’s 225.
However late Wednesday, Fr8Auctions – a sponsor of Moffitt’s from his rookie season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – stepped up to offer funding and give Moffitt’s championship quest in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series new life.
The Iowa native enters the weekend third in the regular season standings, and with two wins to his credit at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Iowa Speedway, Moffitt is second among the playoff-eligible drivers through 10 of the season’s 23 races.
Had he missed this weekend’s activities at Chicagoland, Moffitt likely would have lost his championship eligibility unless NASCAR granted him a waiver. Now, he has newfound hope, at least for one more race.
“It certainly feels good. It was a very long and stressful week Monday through Wednesday. Finally on Wednesday afternoon this deal came together,” explained Moffitt. “I cannot thank Fr8Auctions enough. I was introduced to them back in 2015 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and we have always been in contact. They said if we ever need any help, they would love to step up and help out. It means the world to us that they helped get us here to Chicago. Hopefully we can go out there and win a race for them.”
Moffitt noted that the race to find sponsorship for the Overton’s 225 came all the way down to the wire before he and his No. 16 team were able to get on the road.
“I really didn’t know until Wednesday afternoon whether we were coming or racing, but luckily everything came together there,” Moffitt said. “It’s really been this past month that’s been mentally and emotionally draining. It’s unfortunate for us because I think our truck program is so strong right now, even with all of this as a distraction. I feel like if we could just focus on the race trucks and making our race team stronger and not have to worry about the sponsorships or finances, we could be even better yet.”
With the question of funding settled for this week, Moffitt’s focus has turned to scoring his third win of the season and second on a 1.5-mile track, and he said that the benchmark to beat will be the four-truck juggernaut out of the GMS Racing stable.
“Beating the GMS trucks will be a lot of that,” noted Moffitt. “They have been fast all year and have continued to get faster. Between them and the No. 18 (Noah Gragson) … those guys have been fast at the 1.5-mile tracks.
“These tracks are places where you have to execute the whole race. The short-tracks are a little easier to pass and make up positions if you fall behind. The 1.5-mile tracks are tough unless you get a restart,” Moffitt added. “I think executing the whole race will be the key. Staying up front and keeping track position is the best way to pull into victory lane.”
Moffitt confirmed that there are still questions ahead for the Hattori team in terms of funding, but that they should be able to head to Kentucky Speedway on July 12 for the 12th race of the season.
“The next race (on the calendar) is Kentucky and I think we’re looking good for that; then Eldora is the next question mark on the schedule. Unfortunately, that’s going to be here before you know it,” Moffitt said. “I just hope we can pull something together to get to Eldora. After that, I know for sure Bristol is still open … and Homestead as well.
“We still have a few more to go, but hopefully we can work through it and be okay.”
